Abstract:

Controlling phonon transport represents a significant challenge in electronics, energy, and quantum devices. This talk will highlight my group's recent efforts in exploring thermal materials with extreme properties and interface energy transduction. We have developed novel semiconductors [1], such as cubic boron arsenide (BAs) and boron phosphide, which exhibit record-breaking thermal conductivity of 1300 W/mK at room temperature, surpassing most known materials. Through engineered heterostructures and thermal interfaces [2,3], these materials have demonstrated enhanced performance in power electronics. Our fundamental studies have leveraged BAs as a unique physics platform to investigate high-order phonon anharmonicity [4] under high hydrostatic pressure and applied non-perturbative quantum theory [5] to understand isotope defect interactions, uncovering anomalous transport behaviors. Additionally, I will discuss our recent progress in dynamic thermal control, including interface-driven thermal energy transduction via electrically gated solid-state thermal transistors [6] and phonon polarization control using Moiré patterns in twisted graphene [7]. These findings present new opportunities for advancing key building blocks in power electronics, energy sustainability, and quantum information technologies.

References:

[1] Science 361, 575-578 (2018).
[2] Nature Electronics 4, 416-423 (2021).
[3] Nature Communications 12, 1284 (2021).
[4] Nature 612, 459-464 (2022).
[5] Phys. Rev. B 108, L140302 (2023).
[6] Science 382, 585 (2023).
[7] Advanced Materials 36, 2312176 (2024).